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Boulder man dies in fall at Grand Teton National Park

MOOSE, Wyo. — A 40-year-old Boulder man fell to his death at Grand Teton National Park while scouting for a campsite following a rain and hail storm, park officials said Saturday.

Edward Tom's body was recovered Saturday.

Tom and a climbing partner had planned to camp Friday night in a backcountry area called Petzoldt Caves before climbing the 13,770-foot Grand Teton the next morning.

Tom fell 100 feet over a cliff just before 6 p.m. Friday in Garnet Canyon, authorities said. Several people were nearby and called 911, and two doctors who were climbing in the area rappelled to him and tried to revive him. But Tom already was unconscious.

Three park rangers were flown into the canyon, arriving about one hour after the fall. Resuscitation efforts were halted soon after their arrival, officials said.

Fading light and lingering weather forced rangers to suspend recovery operations until Saturday, when four rangers returned to the canyon and recovered Tom's body. His body was flown by helicopter and given to the Teton County Coroner at 11:40 a.m. Saturday.

The strong storm that moved through the Teton Range from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday produced gusty winds, heavy rain and hail.